By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Wednesday, Mar. 22 2006
After signing four potential defensive starters in free agency, plus a backup
quarterback in Gus Frerotte, the Rams are turning their attention to special
teams this week.
Carolina punter Jason Baker arrived Tuesday afternoon at Rams Park for a
free-agent visit that concludes today. New Orleans kick returner Michael Lewis
is scheduled to visit Thursday.
Baker, 27, is coming off the best year of his career, averaging 43.3 yards a
punt with a net average of 38.9 for the Panthers. Both figures are career
highs, and his net average led the NFC.
Baker, a former Iowa Hawkeye, punted for San Francisco, Philadelphia, Kansas
City, Denver and Indianapolis in his previous four NFL seasons before signing
with Carolina last year. Before last season, Baker's career average was only
39.6 yards.
But in a lean year for punters in free agency, Baker and Baltimore's Dave
Zastudil were considered the best available punters. Zastudil has signed with
Cleveland. An added bonus for Baker is that he also kicks off. Baltimore and
Seattle also have shown interest.
Lewis, 34, played in only two games last season for New Orleans before
suffering a season-ending knee injury in September. Before the injury, Lewis
had a reputation as one of the league's top return men, averaging 24.5 yards a
kickoff return and 11.2 yards a punt return in his previous four NFL seasons. A
2002 Pro Bowler, Lewis has four career return touchdowns.
Play dough
The four-year free-agent contract signed by defensive tackle Ryan Pickett in
Green Bay is worth $14 million, according to figures filed with the NFL Players
Association. Of that total, Pickett gets $2 million in signing bonus money,
plus a roster bonus of $3 million in September.
Pickett's base salaries are as follows: $1.475 million in 2006; $1.475 million
in 2007; $2.475 million in 2008; and $2.975 million in 2009. He also gets a
$500,000 roster bonus before the 2007 campaign, plus $25,000 offseason workout
bonuses in each of the four seasons. The Rams had offered Pickett a five-year,
$16 million deal.
Defensive tackle Damione Lewis signed a two-year, $3.9 million contract with
Carolina. Lewis gets a $1.5 million signing bonus, plus base salaries of
$600,000 in 2006 and $1.2 million in 2007. He also gets a $100,000 workout
bonus and a $500,000 roster bonus in 2007.
Ram-blings
Defensive coordinator
Jim Haslett has spoken with free-agent DT Grady Jackson,
who played in Green Bay last fall, about the possibility of playing in St.
Louis.
Linear Mode
